Have you ever wondered how a single encounter can change your life?
Well, let me share the story of our first rescue dog, Bunu.
It was back in 2003, in the heart of Mangal Bazar, Patan, where I lived with my parents. I was a kid who always had a soft spot for animals, spending most of my childhood days playing in the streets with my friends.
On the 3rd of June 2003, just like any other day, we were playing outside when I saw Bunu for the first time. Bunu was a fluffy black and white local dog with a badly wounded ear.
Blood dripped from her ear, and the smell was awful. She was in so much pain and kept scratching her ear. People would chase her away because of the smell and blood. Her situation was heartbreaking, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch her suffer.
Desperate to help, I ran home to tell my parents about Bunu. Thankfully, they shared my compassion for animals and offered to help.
We hadn’t heard about rescue organizations or mobile veterinary services at that time. We knew about the government hospital but thought it was only for domestic animals like goats and cows.
Despite our uncertainty, we decided to take Bunu to Lagankhel Veterinary Hospital, hoping they could help or at least advise us on her treatment. After the check-up, we learned she had scabies.
I was in 6th grade and was on summer vacation, so we took Bunu to the hospital every day for seven days for her treatment. I remember tying her with a chain, carrying a stick and an umbrella, and walking to the Lagankhel Veterinary Hospital.
Once she recovered from her injury, we couldn’t bear to see her back on the streets. We decided to adopt Bunu and make her a part of our family.
Re-parenting Bunu was a challenge. She did funny things like escaping from the gate and begging for food in restaurants as if she was never fed.
Whenever she escaped, it turned into a cat-and-mouse chase through our home alley. I remember running after her, calling her name, while she ran around corners with surprising speed. It took us three years to train Bunu.
After those three years of training Bunu, she became the sweetest and most loving fur soul. She lived with us for 18 wonderful years and passed away due to old age on September 9, 2022.
Her playful behavior and loyal nature taught us important lessons about never giving up and the endless ability of the human heart to care for someone else.
Bunu will always hold a special place in our hearts. From Oxsa, we learned about unconditional love, but from Bunu, we truly understood what it means to be human.
Bunu, our beloved companion, may no longer be with us, but her spirit lives in the memories we cherish. She taught us that with kindness and dedication, even the most challenging beginnings can lead to a lifetime of joy and mutual devotion.
See you in the next story.
